This week we are showcasing the Embroidery Shoppe, from South Africa. They have high quality designs, including many 3D designs and in the hoop projects.
When you visit the participating blogs in this hop, you'll find tips, tutorials and inspirational projects. Plus, there is a sponsored giveaway at each blog where you have a chance to win your choice of design from the Embroidery Shop. Here is the lie up for this hop:
Monday, Nov 4th
Tuesday, November 5th
Wednesday, November 6th
Thursday, November 7th
Friday, November 8th
As this is a long post today, I'm kicking off this blog hop and sharing a few tips with you. On Friday I'll wrap up this hop and share photos of the projects I've created using designs from Embroider Shoppe.
Tips from SewCalGal
Many years ago, Kelly Jackson/I Have A Notion recommended the Famore MicroFine Tweezers. I've come to love how these tweezers help to pick up the finest thread. A must have tool for anyone that enjoys Machine Embroidery. Plus they work well for pulling out threads for any quilting or sewing project that requires reverse sewing, as well as those situations where you simply need to remove a fine piece of thread.
I prefer to stitch out embroidery designs using softest stabilizer I can use and the least amount of layers. Sometimes I may start a project with one or two layers of stabilizer but as I get going I want to add more. To do this I will "float" stabilizer underneath the hoop. In many cases I can re-cycle stabilizer from prior projects. In the photo above, the left over stabilizer is removed from my stitch out and I would cut it in half, with a line splitting the placement of where the design was removed. These scraps of stabilizer are frequently perfect fit for floating underneath my hoop.
These scraps are also handy when doing blanket stitching on your machine, free-motion embroidery or heavy threadplay, as well as stabilizing small bags, pin cushions, etc..
Wondering what stabilizer I used? There are actually many different brands that work well for this type of project. In this case, I grabbed a role of OESD's Ultra Clean and Tear, which is a good medium weight tear away stabilizer that works well on woven fabrics. I also feel it allows the design to remain soft on the Pasmina, yet visible (thread doesn't sink into the fabric).
For my first project, I wanted to stitch out one of the birds from the Embroider Shoppe's Retro Bird Collection onto a Pasmina Scarf. To avoid "hoop burn", I didn't want to pin the scarf inside of my hoop, so I used two layers of a tear away stabilizer inside of my hoop and pinned the scarf down. To stop the extra area of the scarf from moving underneath my hoop, where it might accidentally get stitched where it shouldn't, I used the Clover Wonder Clips to secure it.
The Retro Bird embroidery collection comes with six whimsical bird designs and two floral spray designs. And I enjoyed stitching out these sweet designs on several Pasmina Scarfs, which I think would make excellent gifts, as well as on 100% cotton for a quilt.
I used Aurifil 40wt 100% cotton threads which work beautifully for machine embroidery and I found to also give an excellent feel on the Pasmina Scarf. Isacord and other machine embroidery threads have always felt to heavy for me, when stitched on Pasmina. Plus, I get far less lint when using Aurifil for machine embroidery than I do with other threads. I just wish I had more bright colors of Aurifil thread.....better yet, I wish I had every Aurifil color!
Want to see them my projects? Come back and visit SewCalGal on Friday to see my projects, and get an extra entry in the giveaway sponsored by Embroider Shoppe.
Did I mention a Giveaway ?
The Embroider Shoppe is sponsoring this giveaway and you get to pick out your favorite design. To enter, simply visit the Embroider Shop and leave a comment on this post letting me know what is your favorite design that you would like to win and stitch out. I'll randomly select a winner on Monday, November 11th and send that winner an email, as well as update this post.
Want extra entries to my giveaway? Followers will have a chance to comment on any blog post released on SewCalGal this week pertaining to the Embroidery Shoppe. Leave a comment on those posts and you'll get an extra entry, increasing your chances of winning! Plus, on Wednesday I'll be sharing photos of some of the Embroidery Shoppe's projects that I saw at Quilt Market. While pictures of their designs on their site are lovely, they are absolutely brilliant when you see them in person.
And, don't forget to visit the other blogs participating in the hop this week as they too will be hosting a sponsored giveaway, as well as sharing tips, tutorials and inspirational projects. I've seen a few sneak peak photos and their projects are really cute.
Also, Embroider Shoppe currently has a 25% off sale on all of their Christmas designs.
****Congratulations to 2NE, the winner of this giveaway on SewCalGal.
SewCalGal combined all the comments, from three ME posts this week and randomlyselect 2nd as the lucky winner.
You can find Embroidery Shoppe at:
http://www.embroidershoppe.com
https://www.facebook.com/embroider.shoppe.7?fref=ts
46 comments:
uhhh fun birds :) can't wait to see the WHOLE scarf, never thought of ME'ing a scarf, I always just think 100% cotton...
I would love to win the Cupcake Pin Cushion designs.
Love their designs and have a couple myself.
Thanks for the tips. Pictures are great! I love the Retro Birds. Off to look at other collections.
I had an awesome friend send me those tweezers and they are just as fabulous as you say.
Next, I was so interested in how you did not use a hoop, thanks for the info.
These birds are the cutest...thanks for such a fun informative post and for this hop.
The 3D flowers are gorgeous, but I really like the scissor pockets. I think those would be great gifts for my embroidery buddies.
Great tips and blog tour!!
I really like the Russian Floral quilt set.
I'm looking forward to all the tips and techniques this week to improve my ME. Thanks for hosting.
#239 Russian Floral Quilt is just a beautiful sew out, Embroider Shoppe has many fun designs.
My favorite Collection is the Crazy Appliqué Set. Expensive for giveaway. Would purchase. So Retro Birds would be my choice. Great work. Lots of collections I liked.
Love the tips in this post. thank you. My favorite design is Cupcake Feast.
This may be an "odd" choice, but I want "#207 James the Bear" --an in the hoop teddy bear.
I love the transportation embroidery set, especially the airplane! I like your tip for using the clover clips for embroidery projects. It is frustrating to finish a project and then find that I've caught a bit of the excess fabric stitched underneath in the design.
tstanulis@mac.com
I pretty much do my stabilizer like you do as well. I always try to use the lightest possible, but instead of tearaways (If I use tearaway it's the very lightest easiest to tear kind) I use wash aways. I also reuse anything I cut away after embroidering since stabilizer is so expensive. I also start out with perhaps 1 layer of stabilizer and add as I go. I hoop only the first layer of stabilizer and rarely hoop fabric, instead I opt to lay it on the top by lightly spraying to adhere the fabric to the stabilizer in the hoop. When I add my 2nd layers of stabilizer and even the 3rd, I will either use spray or I will use the smaller hoop basting stitches to hold them in place.
However, your idea with the pins is bothersome. I would not ever do this. Instead, I created long ago basting stitches for each of my hoop sizes and I saved them into the machine memory, so they are easy to bring up based on the hoop I am using. I use these instead of pins. My only reason for pins is because I'd be to afraid one would come lose from all the vibrating the machine makes when sewing/embroidering and would end up breaking a needle, especially where the pins are on the sides like that.
Love the designs you chose to do, and will be back to see your project.
I forgot to mention that I love the idea of the wonder clips, I'm definitely going to try that myself. :)
I actually love the little birds that you chose :)
I really love the "263 Dress Me Activity Book" since I have a few Grandchildren now that are in need of learning these things. I've always loved these types of little books.
Very cute design! And thanks for the tips! 263 Dress Me Up looks like a lot of fun for my DGD. Thanks for the chance!
Beautiful work. The embroidery designs and stitchouts are lovely.
#291- Quilted Handbag Pincushion is what I would like to win, thanks for the chance.
smjohns63 at yahoo dot com
Thanks for the scarf hooping tip! I love the purple and yellow pansy design.
I love them all but think Pink Retro Rose is my favourite.
The russian floral quilt is my favorite :-) Lots of great embroidery
I really like the Tea Time embroidery designs on the embroidery shoppe site.
I am a novice at embroidery - have a machine, but don't use it much. Thanks for the tips. Looking forward to the Blog hop.
The pashmina is so darn cute with the embroidered birdie.
Smiles,
Kelly
The Merry X-Mouse(s) from the Christmas set. Of course, it will soon be here, so it's on my mind!!
Thanks so much for sharing. I love the Russian tea quilt set.
I love the Lacy lingerie set. I have used Embroider Shoppes designs before. They stitch out beautifully. I too float extra stabilizer on the bottom. And I recycle my stabilizer when I can to cut down on wastes.
I love the Butterfly Booties. They are perfect for a baby girl.
The retro birds are cute, but I really like the scissor pockets. Thanks for the tips, I'm still trying to get used to using my machine.
I love the dimensional flowers. Also so many wonderful patterns for my grandchildren.
Oh dear, I bought ES's 3D 'Stargazer Lily' awhile back and haven't gotten it stitched. It's gorgeous and look forward to displaying it in my favorite vase. Right now, I'm looking for some cute Christmas ornaments for my grandkids. I think I've found the right ones; it's #1667 Mouse Ornaments. They are adorable.
I am a follower by email and Feedly.
Your Pashmini looks beautiful. I loved the 3D flowers - especially the fire hibiscus.
I like the cupcake feast designs...look forward to seeing your projects this week!
I am a follower too!
Love their designs! Would really love to have either of the 3d flower sets - gorgeous!
This is going to be a fun blog hop! I like the 3D flowers 3 design. I can see a lot of ways this design could be used.
I'm so happy you're doing this blog hop; I bought a combo machine in April, took 1 class, but have yet to use it for anything!
I love the little birds you're using for your scarf. Can't wait to see the rest of your projects.
Thank you for doing the giveaway!! I went through all the pages on EmbroiderShoppe.com and my favorites are the Tea, Coffee and Cake designs. They are so nice, and they'd be adorable on a wall hanging!
I just love their three D flowers- especially the roses and the pointsetias
I love the selection of breast cancer! The chicks are crazy cute!
So many great designs, lots to love! The Retro Birds caught my eye as well as the Dapple Dogs. Looking forward to this hop and learning lots!
Thank you for a super giveaway and the chance to win.
usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com
I love how your bird came out-just adorable! I may have to get that design pack myself!
I love the idea of embroidering on the Pashmina. Thanks for hosting another great Blog Hop, I learn so much on your blog! I would love to try the quilted bag from the Embroidery Shoppe, it looks great.
I love the Retro Birds, can think of several ways to use them.
Enjoyed the hop. Learned a lot and saw some really cute ideas.
Thank you - I'm the lucky one :-)
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